Summary Table : Beginner's Guide to P2P

By Benjamin Webb, published on June 8, 2006
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: beginners, guide, to, p2p

Contents

To pull everything together into one handy place, here's a table that summarizes the key info on each program.

Program	Pros	Cons	Max speed	Avg Speed	Adware or Annoyances	Download completion of files with one source	Number of DVR-MS files
DC++	-Can set up private sharing network -Great download speeds	-You can only connect to one person at a time	-12 MB/s on LAN -200 kB/s internet	0-200 kB /s depends on user	None	All files are downloaded from only one source	Varies
BitTorrent	-Excellent speeds with enough seeds	-Finding torrents -Poorly seeded torrents go slowly	200 kB /s	20-50 kB /s	None	0% (takes forever)	Everything you can find a torrent for
Morpheus	-Good download speed -Huge User base	-Unstable sometimes - Lots of adware	50 kB /s	20-30 kB /s	-Pop ups -Autostarts with computer -Installs toolbar	50%	14
IMesh	-Huge User Base -Artist can publish their own works	-Content being filtered? -No video	?	16 kB /s	-Tries to change homepage -Likes hiding in taskbar	0% for 3 Red vs. Blue files	None (video content appears to be filtered)
LimeWire	-Fast -Huge User Base -Easy to Use		60 kB /s	20-30 kB /s	-Likes hiding in taskbar	50%	4
eMule and eDonkey 2000	-Large variety of content	-Adware on eDonkey -Port forwarding - Extremely slow for new users but increases with sharing	Varies with use	Varies with use	-WhenUSave (eDonkey2000)	?	-eMule 7 -eDonkey would not function after antivirus zapped adware
Shereaza and Xolox	-Show promise -Ad free	-Slow -Xolox locked up	- Could not complete for testing	- Could not complete for testing	-Shereaza autostarts with windows - Both like hiding in taskbar	?	0